Rieko Ioane receives Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year award

Hailing from Ngāpuhi and Te Whānau-a-Apanui, New Zealand rugby player Rieko Ioane has taken home the award for Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year- Te Tama-a-Ranginui.

Finalists for this category included motor racing driver Faine Kahia of Ngāti Tūwharetoa and Muay Thai fighter Tokomaru Taylor of Tainui and Taranaki.

Rieko was named in the Māori All Blacks team to take on USA in Chicago on their recent world tour.

19-year-old Ioane made his debut on the world Sevens scene in 2015, a year after his older brother Akira. He was also a member of the New Zealand Men's Sevens team that played at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

In 2015, older brother Akira was named Junior Māori Sportsman of the Year. He went up against four other notable Māori athletes including 2014 winner Tai Wynyard and Reiko.